More than 66,000 people in remote parts of Papua New Guinea will soon gain access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity through two new solar projects backed by Australia.
The PGK12.8 million (AUD4.7 million) investment was announced by Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, at Pre-COP31 in Fiji.
In Oro Province, 19 communities between Popondetta and the Kokoda Track will receive pay-as-you-go solar home systems, streetlights and education servers – benefiting around 55,000 people.
The project will be delivered by Sola PayGo and MiBank, with families also receiving training in technical, financial and digital literacy.In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, solar and battery systems will be installed at five remote schools in Tinputz, powering classrooms and teachers’ housing.
Delivered by Save the Children and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Education, the project includes a school-managed solar lantern scheme that will bring safer lighting to up to 2,000 nearby homes, reaching more than 11,400 people.
Education Secretary Dorothy Kenneth said reliable power will improve teaching and learning.
“A consistent source of clean, green and sustainable power supply for proper lighting for night studies, safety, security and communication will certainly make a difference in our teachers’ and students’ teaching and learning,” Ms Kenneth said.
A third project announced at pre-COP31 will bring solar power and internet to 13 remote schools in Fiji.
